In medical textbooks, the skin is often referred to as the integument, which in Latin means "envelope" or "covering." This demonstrates the vital importance of this organ. The skin is our first line of defense against UV rays and external aggressions such as pollution and chemicals. Its protective properties can also be impaired by stress, smoking, or an unbalanced diet. With our current lifestyles, even with the best will in the world, it is impossible for us to be completely safe from these attacks. It's no coincidence that our skin is the first organ to suffer from aging.
Understanding its structure and functions means knowing how to preserve and care for it. It also means delving into the heart of our expertise at FILORGA. Thanks to this article, skin will no longer hold any secrets for you: you'll understand how it lives and regenerates and how our products will help you maintain healthy, youthful, smooth, and radiant skin.
The structure of the skin: 3 intimately linked protective layers
The skin is a vital organ that is more than just a simple covering. It protects us while allowing us to interact with the environment. It is a support of our identity and a marker of the passing of time. The three layers that make up the skin have different, but complementary, functions.
The epidermis
It is the surface layer of the skin, which plays an important role against external aggressions. The epidermis is made up of four sub-layers:
- The stratum corneum.
- The stratum granulosa.
- The stratum spinosum.
- The basal layer.
The epidermis is mainly made up of keratinocytes, tightly packed cells that produce keratin.It is completely renewed every month. The keratinocytes migrate to the surface of the epidermis and transform into corneocytes, which then form a waterproof and resistant layer (the stratum corneum mentioned above). Corneocytes are dead cells, but they remain bound together by a cement made of lipids. It is – among other things – to nourish this lipid cement that our moisturizers incorporate fatty compounds. Melanocytes, the cells that synthesize melanin, are also present in the epidermis. They are responsible for pigmentation: their number and their reaction to UV rays during tanning determine skin color.
There are two other types of epidermal cells, located in the deepest layer (the basal layer): Langerhans cells and Merkel cells. The former are part of ourimmune system and can detect and neutralize certain foreign bodies. The latter housenerve endings and are sensitive to pressure. These skin cells play an essential role in the sense of touch by allowing us to detect shapes, textures, etc.
The Dermis
Of the three layers that make up the skin, the dermis is the most complex and metabolically active. The papillary dermis is attached to the epidermis, while the reticular dermis is located just above the hypodermis.
The entire dermis is crisscrossed by countless blood and lymphatic vessels that provide it with the necessary nutrients and transport immune cells in the event of an attack.
It is also made up of cells called fibroblasts, which bathe in a kind of gel and secrete four essential macromolecules:
- Collagen, which resists traction.
- Elastin, which provides suppleness to the skin.
- Hyaluronic acid, which acts like a sponge and absorbs water, thereby resisting stresses on the skin.
- Proteoglycans, which participate in communication and adhesion between cells of the dermis.
These four macromolecules form a 3-dimensional network that is highly shock-resistant and protective for deeper organs.
But the properties of the dermis are not limited to the action of fibroblasts. It is in fact in the dermis that the skin's appendages are born and develop:
- Hair follicles form hairs.
- The sebaceous glands produce sebum, a group of fatty substances(monoglycerides, Diglycerides, triglycerides, waxes, free fatty acids, squalene, and cholesterol) which, when mixed with sweat, strengthen the protection of the epidermis. This emulsion is called the hydrolipidic film.
- Sweat glandsproduce sweat, a mixture of water, minerals, and organic substances, essential for thermoregulation, which is the body's ability to cool itself.
Finally, the dermis is also home to the nerve endings sensitive to heat, cold, and pain.
The Hypodermis
This is the basal layer of the skin, the deepest. It is composed offat cells, adipocytes, which vary in volume depending on the amount of fat stored there. The hypodermis is therefore an adipose tissue that stores energy, but also provides natural insulation against the cold.
How skin tissue deteriorates with Age and what FILORGA can do for you.
As we've just seen, the skin is more than just a simple covering. It's an organ with multiple functions essential to life, but it's not completely infallible. As with any living body, the skin's properties decline with age, and the effects of aging vary depending on the skin's appearance. Therefore, they also don't have the same causes.
Taking all these parameters into account—their origin, nature, and mechanisms—requires genuine expertise. Expertise like that which FILORGA has been developing for you for over 40 years.
Now that you better understand the structure of the skin, let's discover the signs of skin aging and the solutions that FILORGA offers to remedy them.
Wrinkles
They are the consequences of structural changes that appear in the three layers of the skin :
- The lower layer of the epidermis thins and becomes more vulnerable to damage, while at the same time, dead cells (corneocytes) accumulate on the surface and form an increasingly thick stratum corneum.
- The fibroblasts in the dermis produce less collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. The dermis loses its firmness and elasticity..
- The volume of fat cells in the hypodermis decreases, further contributing to skin sagging.
These changes in the skin's structure are amplified by facial muscle movements, which create fractures in the dermis. These are expression lines.
To prevent and reduce your facial wrinkles, FILORGA draws inspiration from 5 aesthetic medicine techniques inits TIME-FILLER range.
Firmness
Skin lacking firmness is characterized bysagging and a loss of elasticity. Changes in facial volume are visible, such as deeper dark circles, sagging cheekbones, and a sagging face.
The loss of firmness is due tothe disorganization of the dermis. As with wrinkles, fibroblasts are no longer able to produce enough elastic fibers and structuring and nourishing elements. The loss of firmness also comes from the loss or displacement of the subcutaneous fat layer. Normally, this fat supports the skin, but if it disappears or shifts, the skin sags under the effect of gravity.
In its LIFT, NCEF-REVERSE, and GLOBAL-REPAIR ranges, FILORGA offers creams and balms that can be applied according to your needs regarding loss of firmness.
Dehydration
Dehydrated skin is characterized bylow water content and a reduced capacity to retain it. Telltale signs include tightness, fine lines, and a lack of firmness. This sign of skin aging is mainly due to an alteration in the epidermal barrier function as well as a decrease in the natural production of hyaluronic acid. To regenerate dehydrated skin, FILORGA has specially designed the Hyaluronic Acid range, based on 5 types of hyaluronic acid, which helps to plump, smooth, and Moisturize the skin.
Dry Skin
External aggressions and skin aging can lead to an alteration of your skin's barrier function.You produce less sebum, the lipid cement of your epidermis loses its robustness, and your skin becomes less protective.
So, if you have very dry skin that tends to peel or has a rough texture, it needs to be nourished with specific skincare products based on lipid-replenishing active ingredients. For a comprehensive anti-aging treatment that will combat dehydration and dryness of your skin, we recommend GLOBAL-REPAIR products. Brightness depends on the skin's ability to reflect light. With age, skin microcirculation slows, leading to a decrease in nutrient and oxygen supply. Your epidermal cells renew themselves less efficiently, and dead cells accumulate on the surface. The stratum corneum becomes thicker, and your complexion loses its radiance.
To regainbeautiful skin, FILORGA recommendsusing EXFOLIANTS. Based on peeling techniques, they will allow you to effectively eliminate layers of dead cells. You can then reoxygenate your skin by applying OXYGEN-GLOW perfecting treatments.
Pigmentation
Melanocytes are responsible for skin pigmentation. They are located in the epidermis and produce melanin. When you tan, your skin becomes pigmented by producing more melanin. Then, as your skin cells renew themselves, melanin production returns to normal and the skin gradually regains its natural color.
Various factors such asprolonged sun exposure, hormonal changes, pollution, and skin aging can contribute to the appearance of hyperpigmentation spots. These factors can disrupt the normal function of melanocytes, leading to excessive melanin production and the formation of localized pigment deposits. Dark spots then appear on the skin, leading to a loss of evenness and radiance in the complexion.
The FILORGA complexion-perfecting rangeSKIN-UNIFY has been specially designed to reduce dark spots on the face and restore the skin's even, radiant appearance. luminous.
For over 40 years, thanks to its team of researchers and in close collaboration with renowned doctors and cosmetic surgeons, FILORGA has been using the latest scientific advances to develop increasingly innovative and effective treatments for all signs of skin aging.
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